Croydon is spoilt for Op Shops, with 5 in near sight of each other.
The Red Cross Op Shop is a small affair with limited stock, and for what they have, and what they charge, they are starting to act more like a boutique these days. Like the Brotherhood of St.Lawrence around the corner, the stock here is sometimes laughably overpriced. Colour coded yes, but still...
I understand that they feel they can up the price as the boutique second hand stores get away with it, however it's often the case that quality isn't considered when the prices are upped. I get that you can charge $200 for a second hand leather jacket in the city, but don't try and sting us $20 for a second hand handbag!
With so many of these suburban op shops being poached of their goods to be re-sold closer to the city for three times the price, I guess it's a knee jerk reaction to up the initial price. That's fine, but were not all poachers, some of us just want a bargain while helping a cause. read more